Tico Tidbit #2: Easter = Mass Exodus...

Happy “Good Friday” folks! Hope you and yours are enjoying the holiday weekend. Costa Ricans are mostly Catholic so here Easter is a week long celebration called “Semana Santa” or Holy Week. Several things go down for “Semana Santa”, you still have all of your typical religious ceremonies, but there are some things that one may not expect.

1. There is a mass exodus to the beaches! Now I am not quite certain why everyone heads to the coasts but San Jose and pretty much all of the central valley becomes a ghost town. I’m pretty sure that Jesus isn’t in Jaco walking on water, but something is drawing everyone!

2. Be sure to have all of your business taken care of! Most of the banks and Government offices are closed after Wednesday but some are closed for the entire week. If you need cash try to get to the ATM’s as early in the week as possible. You wouldn’t believe how long the lines get!

3. If you want to “get in the spirit” with the “Spirits” that come in a bottle you better get to the liquor store early! Depending on what municipality you live in there is a “dry law” in effect from Wednesday to Saturday. We learned this the hard way our first year here. We went to grab some groceries and “liquid refreshment” from Auto Mercado only to find the entire liquor isles sealed off! We had to sulk home without our bottle of Patron.

4. Got niños? Well if you do, don’t forget there is no school. Better figure out some stuff to do to keep them occupied & entertained! I stocked up on bubbles and made sure the “Slip N Slide” was good to go.

5. The bus schedules are reduced so if you have somewhere to be check the schedule before heading to the bus stop. I would hate for you to be hanging out at the bus stop waiting for a bus that won’t ever come 

6. Have you seen “The Hunger Games”? If you haven’t go check it out. Most of the movie theaters are still open for their regular hours.

7. Lastly, please don’t waste your time looking to buy an Easter Basket. For the second year in a row I fooled myself in to believing that Wal-Mart would have plastic grass and chocolate eggs galore. Alas they didn’t have a damn thing!  This really surprised me because they have a nice selection for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentines Day. I ended up tapping into my right brain and hooked up a “basket” using a beach pail & shovel set. I filled it with candy, bubbles, and little toys. Kids loved ‘em.

Tico Tidbit #1: This will not be beneficial to those on a diet

Want some McDonald’s French fries? Don’t front like you do not want em. Heck, I know I wouldn’t turn down any. Those golden, delicious, perfectly salted, sticks of culinary excellence are AMAZING. Now imagine that those could be delivered to your door along with a Big Mac, Coke, and even a pineapple pie or some Happy Meals for the kids! Yup all that and more is available in Costa Rica.

I was so confused when I first saw a motorcycle zooming by me with a “McDonalds” Hotbox on the back. I just didn’t get it. Then I thought back to all the times my family and I would ride by a McDonalds or hit up the drive-thru. There is a picture of a motorcycle next to a phone number. Stupid me never put it together. They have “Servicio Express”! The delivery fee is about $1 or $2 extra depending on the distance. The delivery guy doesn’t expect a tip but giving a little something is appreciated!

Back in the states I was used to getting pizza or Chinese food delivered, but never fathomed a “quarter pounder” showing up at the front door upon request. In CR it is pretty common for “Soda’s” and “Fast Food Restuants” to deliver. Sodas are usually a combo of a restaurant & convenience store and sometimes it will double as a bar or club. The food is really affordable and tasty. They are everywhere down here. Yet another reason I love Costa Rica.

Oh and in case you are #Team Burger King or if you are one of those healthy folks who prefer Subway, don’t worry. They deliver too!